Sinn Féin meet PSNI regarding Newry 12th Parade

Newry Sinn Féin councillor Brendan Curran has met with the PSNI Area Commander to raise a number of concerns relating to today’s Orange Order parade through Newry.

The meeting took place yesterday 11th July and councillor Curran highlighted the following concerns,

“The most immediate concern yesterday was the overnight erection of scores of loyalist flags and bunting on the Belfast Road. Both Newry Sinn Féin office and individual elected representatives have been inundated with calls from angry residents who witnessed the erection of these loyalist flags by masked men.”

The Orange Parade in Newry. Photo courtesy of D.Barry (Twitter)

“Eyewitnesses have informed me that those involved were using a telescopic fork lift which had no number plates displayed. This took place on a busy stretch of road a matter of yards from the PSNI station at Ardmore.”

Curran continued, “I have questioned the PSNI on their lack of intervention as this was occurring and as yet I have not received a satisfactory answer. The fact that this took place under the noses of the police and was not challenged sends the wrong message to the people of Newry and it is an issue that I will be raising through the Police & Community Safety Partnership as soon as possible.”

“It is an absolute disgrace that the organisers of this parade refuse to sit and discuss this with local residents, business people and elected reps their plans to disrupt local life year in and year out. I know that my colleague Mickey Brady MLA has tried in vain on a number of occasions to meet with parade organisers ahead of this parade but this has been met with stoney silence.”

“I will be closely monitoring today’s parade to ensure that it adheres to the criteria set. I will also be monitoring the PSNI behaviour today and the effects on local residents and businesses,” he added.

3 Comments for “Sinn Féin meet PSNI regarding Newry 12th Parade”

Its the same every year. Police allow Loyalists to do what ever they want.
Sinn Fein Complain and request meetings,
Nothing changes!
Same happens the following year
Sinn Fein and all the other political parties are totally powerless when it comes to dealing with the psni.
Sinn Fein and all the other parties have totally lost the policing battle and the psni are laughing their heads off at them.
What would happen if telescopic forklifts were used on Easter Saturday night to erect Tricolours outside the psni station.
I don’t think i need to answer this question as you all know what would happen.
Its time to wake up and realise that the police service is still corrupt as ever!